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Family petitions DPP after suspect in daughter’s death walks scot-free

Deceased: Ruth Kay Arao. PHOTO | COURTESY

What you need to know:

  • The family now wants the ODPP to have a second look at what they describe as “highly-suggestive evidence”, including DNA samples and camera footage analysis

A family in Mukono Municipality requests the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to re-examine the file of a key suspect in their daughter’s alleged murder after he was granted police bond under what they deem “unnecessary circumstances”.

Yonah Oboth, 49, a resident of Janda, Kira Municipality in Wakiso District, was arrested on November 28 and detained at Kira Division Headquarters after the body of Ruth Kay Arao, 27, was on November 23 discovered dumped in a bush next to the railway line in Bukasa, days after she went missing.

However, Oboth was on December 20 given police bond citing “delays in getting DNA results”, a decision that has further plunged the victim’s family into uncertainty and in fear of not getting justice for their loved one.

“I think there must have been an exchange of money; we need justice. This guy is a key suspect because his wife went missing for five days, and he never filed a missing person report.
 
“All he maintained was that the deceased went for work and never returned home; secondly, they were in a bitter relationship that led to the separation of the bedrooms,” a family member, who requested to remain anonymous, said on Saturday.
 
He added: “We just got to know that the Regional Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) ordered for his release, but all we need is justice. He must be produced in court; however, I am told the Resident State Attorney said he can’t prefer charges against him because of DNA results.”
 
The family now wants the ODPP to have a second look at what they describe as “highly-suggestive evidence”, including DNA samples and camera footage analysis, saying they may yield an incriminating clue.
 
“There was blood spillage found in the man’s house, samples were taken from the suspect and from the corpse for verification, and CCTV footage was taken from his house for review, but all these two results are not yet out,” the family member further explained.
 
The family theorises that the suspect killed their loved one from his house and dumped her body in a bush next to the railway line in Bukasa where it was eventually discovered.
 
Police Spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke didn’t respond to this publication’s efforts to contact him for a comment on this matter; however, DPP Spokesperson Jacquelyn Okui says if the family is dissatisfied with the Resident State Attorney’s opinion, it can pursue the matter with the Regional State Attorney.
 
BACKGROUND

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Procurement from Kyambogo University in 2021, the deceased reportedly left the home of her elder brother who raised and educated her up to university, Benson Amwata, in Nabusugwe Valley View Estate, Goma Division, Mukono Municipality, to cohabit with the suspect.
 
Amwata described his late younger sister as “a very humble girl”.
 
However, the couple’s relationship turned toxic that the deceased planned to walk out and start a new life at her new residence in Kireka on December 1 using savings from her employment at a firm in the Kampala suburb of Luzira.
 
The victim’s family allegedly didn’t approve of the couple’s relationship due to the 22-year age difference and doubts over the suspect’s employment status. “He (Oboth) has no clear work profile and he deceived the deceased that he is a contractor with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM),” a family member said in an earlier interview.
 
A resident, who declined to be named, added: “I understand that even when he is out in a drinking place, his beer is served to him in his car and he is always moving with a pistol; he is either a criminal or spy.”
 
Tuhimbise Methodius, who studied with her at Kyambogo University, too, described her as “a humble girl”, while David Nkubbi, also an alumni, said he is going to miss her.
 
The deceased, who was on November 28 buried at Bung Village, Ayabi Sub-county in Kwania District, left behind a two-year-old son.